A look at the state of the quarterback position in Week 5 of fantasy football leagues, with start/sit recommendations and position rankings.

THREE UP

Russell Wilson, SEA, at LA Rams: Wilson is red-hot going into a pivotal Week 5 matchup against the Rams, throwing for 668 yards and six touchdowns in his past two starts. The Seahawks are having all kinds of trouble holding their own along the offensive line, and they can't seem to keep their running backs healthy, which puts Wilson at the center of everything they do. He's making plays outside the pocket and letting passes rip down the field. At the same time, he has at least 26 rushing yards in all four of his starts. Facing the Rams' top-ranked offense, Seattle will need every one of Wilson's run-pass skills to keep pace. Los Angeles has given up five passing touchdowns against San Francisco and Dallas in the past two games, both of which turned into shootouts. Their Week 5 contest could unfold the same way.

Carson Wentz, PHI, vs. Arizona: Were it not for matchups against Brian Hoyer and Jacoby Brissett, the Cardinals defense could look much worse on paper than it does. Arizona surrendered four touchdowns to Matthew Stafford and two more to Dak Prescott, and the unit is on an early pace for 36 sacks, which would be down from 48 in 2016. Steadiness has been the name of Wentz's fantasy game through four weeks, and he ranks No. 8 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks despite playing three of four games on the road. He plays four of his next five at Lincoln Financial Field and has a real shot to deliver a signature performance that puts a gaudy number next to the tangible progress he's made in his second season. The Cardinals present an opportunity to do that at their expense.

Jacoby Brissett, IND, vs. San Francisco: Andrew Luck is back at practice this week and perhaps about to bring Brissett's run as the Colts' starter to an end. He doesn't have all that much to show for his three starts as a pure passer -- he's averaged 210 yards with two total touchdown passes and two interceptions -- but that's just a small part of Brissett's game. He looks comfortable under center and is a big, powerful runner who thrived against a questionable defense in Cleveland in Week 3. His rushing totals aren't gaudy, but much like Cam Newton, he has high upside as a touchdown scorer close to the goal line. He also plays at home against a suspect 49ers defense this week after fighting an uphill battle on the road at Seattle last week. Brissett could rise into the low-end QB1 ranks if he can cross the goal-line as a runner once again.

THREE DOWN

Cam Newton, CAR, at Detroit: Maybe the Lions defense is legitimate, maybe it's not. That unit alone isn't worth downgrading Newton, even if its held its own against Carson Palmer, Eli Manning and Matt Ryan and held Case Keenum without a touchdown last week. The Lions lead the NFL with seven interceptions and allow the fourth-fewest points per game (17.5 ppg). Given Newton's up-and-down play through four weeks -- not to mention the firestorm surrounding his comments to a female reporter -- and the fact he's on the road, this matchup is no sure thing. Trust isn't on Newton's side, even after a huge performance (316 yards, 4 total TDs) against a bad Patriots defense in Week 4.

Jared Goff, LAR, vs. Seattle: The early-season evaluation of Goff's abilities continues, and the Seahawks present his stiffest test yet. Goff has been lights-out through four games, and he guides a Rams offense that leads the NFL in scoring, averaging 35.5 points per game. Meanwhile, the vaunted Seahawks defense is without top pass-rusher Cliff Avril and still isn't getting to the quarterback as often as coach Pete Carroll would like, but the unit is still built to slow down opposing passing games. Seattle ranks No. 4 in pass defense and has given up the fourth-fewest passing scores (four). The matchup should keep Goff on fantasy benches for at least another week, but it warrants watching closely. A big performance can legitimize everything he's done so far.

Tyrod Taylor, BUF, at Cincinnati: Taylor's strengths in fantasy football are well-documented. He takes care of the football, makes the most of his limited opportunities and is arguably the best and steadiest running quarterback in the league. Those skills lend themselves to consistency and are occasionally boosted into QB1 territory when the stars align and when the right matchup presents itself. Week 5 is not that matchup. The Bengals defense isn't invincible, but it has held three of four opposing quarterbacks below 200 yards passing. This game could easily morph into a defensive slugfest with two of the most effective defenses in the game. The Bengals rank No. 3 against the pass and allow the fourth-fewest touchdowns (4).

WAIVER WATCH

E.J. Manuel, OAK, vs. Baltimore: The Raiders exude confidence that Manuel can take them where they want to go while starter Derek Carr is sidelined for the next 2-to-4 weeks with a back injury. Coach Jack Del Rio called Manuel's performance in relief of Carr last week "uplifting" as he got off to a hot start and finished with 106 passing yards and an interception against the Broncos' elite pass defense. The former first-round draft pick shows signs of benefiting big-time from a change in scenery after four lackluster seasons in Buffalo. Manuel is still just 27 years old and has a much better supporting cast around him, from an elite offensive line to the 1-2 punch of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. He is also due to make at least two starts and the Raiders play their next three games at home. Manuel is no slam dunk, but his talent and opportunity are intriguing enough to watch.